Who Makes Trader Joe's Products? (2024)

When you shop private-label brands like Simple Truth at Kroger or Great Value at Walmart, you might wonder where manufacturers make those products. Does Kroger make Simple Truth items? Does Walmart have a factory that manufactures Great Value products?

These store brands compete with national name brands. But at Trader Joe’s, you won’t find any big-name brands on the labels. Instead, you’ll see Trader Joe’s private label.

So who makes Trader Joe’s products? The answer isn’t as easy to discover as you might think. Let’s dive in!

What Is Trader Joe’s?

Trader Joe’s is a national chain of grocery stores that began in 1967. However, you won’t find many name-brand products here. Instead, you’ll find everyday essentials and unique and exciting global products. Trader Joe’s is also different from other grocery store chains because the company doesn’t offer coupons, a loyalty program, or a membership card. All customers will find the best prices Trader Joe’s offers.

To keep prices down, Trader Joe’s focuses on buying directly from suppliers and buying in volume. The company also doesn’t charge supplier fees. Thus prices stay low. If a product isn’t cutting it, it goes away, making room for something new. Finally, Trader Joe’s doesn’t offer online shopping, delivery, or curbside pick-up. Customers must shop in stores. All these factors contribute to lower prices.

What Is Trader Joe’s Known for?

Sustainability is one factor that sets Trader Joe’s apart from other traditional grocery store chains. For example, the company uses renewable and recycled packaging materials and has increased the number of frozen entrees in a plastic tray with a compostable option. Trader Joe’s also composts organic materials instead of sending them to landfills.

People also know Trader Joe’s for its eclectic atmosphere. According to Forbes, “Trader Joe’s has artists at every location that hand-draw every price tag, which means over one million unique price tags all over the stores. You will find the name of the item and the price in big bubbly letters, but you will also get advice on how to consume it and/or a picture.” Whimsical shopping experiences lead customers to make Trader Joe’s their favorite hometown grocery store.

By offering natural and organic products at lower prices than their counterparts, Trader Joe’s locations keep business thriving. The unique selection also brings in foodies who want to try something different or want to put together a special date night dinner. Customers can pick up Korean beefless bulgogi or soy chorizo, or jicama wraps. You won’t find these food choices at your neighborhood Walmart.

Pro Tip: Be careful to not commit any of these 7 Deadly Sins of Trader Joe’s Shopping.

Who Makes Trader Joe's Products? (1)

Who Makes Trader Joe’s Products?

According to SFGATE, a news site serving the San Francisco area, Trader Joe’s doesn’t have a warehouse where it stores aisles of food, and it doesn’t have a factory where it makes its products. Instead, it “sources items from companies specializing in generic products, and, in some cases, from well-known brands. Then they slap on the Trader Joe’s label.”

However, Trader Joe’s and big-name brand companies have their secrets. They don’t want customers to know what company makes what product. Trader Joe’s wants to gain customer loyalty to its brand, while big-name brand companies don’t want customers to know that their bag of peanuts is cheaper under the Trader Joe’s label.

Does Trader Joe’s Make Any of Their Own Products?

Trader Joe’s doesn’t have a factory where they make their products. According to Eater.com, “As a private brand, the California-based Trader Joe’s orders most of its products from third-party manufacturers (including giants like PepsiCo. and Snyder’s-Lance), which agree to sell some of their items under the Trader Joe’s label. Many of these brands sell the same or similar products under their names for a higher price. The catch is that Trader Joe’s and its suppliers all but swear to keep the agreement secret.” So as we mentioned above, the hush-hush business secrets of what companies make Trader Joe’s products continue to be a mystery.

However, due to recalls, it’s known that Wonderful Pistachios has supplied Trader Joe’s pistachios, Tribe Mediterranean Foods has provided Trader Joe’s hummus, and Naked has filled Trader Joe’s with beverages. You’ll also notice that the ingredient list for many products is the same as name-brand products. For example, Trader Joe’s gluten-free chocolate chip cookies have nearly identical ingredients as Tate’s Bake Shop cookies.

Who Makes Trader Joe's Products? (2)

Does Trader Joe’s Source From China?

Trader Joe’s no longer carries single-ingredient products from China. However, the company has products with ingredients from China, like vitamins and minerals in many processed foods. Over the years, customers voiced concerns about products imported from China, and Trader Joe’s listened by removing them from its stores.

What Is the Most Popular Item at Trader Joe’s?

When you sort by popularity on its website, the most often purchased items at Trader Joe’s include Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings, Mini Chocolate Mousse Desserts, Tteok Bok Ki, and an Instant Boba Kit. Popular beverages include Winter Wassail Punch, Non-Dairy Oat Creamer, Indian Pearl Mountain Small Lot Coffee, and Matcha Green Tea Powder.

The Kitchn ranks Trader Joe’s items and explains that the favorite entree is the Mandarin Orange Chicken. Unexpected Cheddar Cheese is the best cheese at Trader Joe’s, and customers’ favorite snack is the Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels.

Who Are Trader Joe’s Target Customers?

Trader Joe’s is targeting younger customers making over $80,000 a year. These college-educated customers are serious about making quality food choices and prefer natural and organic options over cheaper processed options. Trader Joe’s promises products free of artificial preservatives, artificial flavors, partially hydrogenated oils, and genetically modified ingredients.

Pro Tip: Does Trader Joe’s have the best pastries? We uncovered What National Grocery Store Has the Best Bakery?

Are Trader Joe’s Products Worth It?

If you want to purchase products with quality ingredients at lower prices than you might find at other grocery stores, shopping at Trader Joe’s is worth it. If you want inspiration for a new dish or to try ethnic food, Trader Joe’s has plenty of choices. There are locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia, so no matter where you are, you’ll likely have a Trader Joe’s near you.

Are you a faithful Trader Joe’s customer? Or are you now considering heading to your local store?

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Who Makes Trader Joe's Products? (2024)

FAQs

Who Makes Trader Joe's Products? ›

Does Trader Joe's Make Any of Their Own Products? Trader Joe's doesn't have a factory where they make their products. According to Eater.com, “As a private brand, the California-based Trader Joe's orders most of its products from third-party manufacturers (including giants like PepsiCo.

How does Trader Joe's choose products? ›

You may have noticed that Trader Joe's almost exclusively sells Trader Joe's brand items. Well the truth is, they do what is called private labeling. They buy from other brands such as Stacy's (Pita Chips) and Annie's (Mac and Cheese), and sell the products under their own label for a cheaper price.

What is the secret to Trader Joe's success? ›

By selling foods outside of what the shopper typically sees, Trader Joe's customers keep coming back to see what's new. Over the years, the grocery chain has cultivated a loyal customer base. These customers appreciate the unusual products and competitive prices in the store.

Is Trader Joe's and Aldi owned by the same company? ›

Here's the short answer:

“ALDI U.S. and Trader Joe's are independently operated companies with no joint ownership.”

Why does Trader Joes discontinue so many products? ›

The No. 1 reason items are discontinued, the company explained in a 2022 episode of the Inside Trader Joe's podcast, is low sales volume.

Where does Trader Joe's get their food from? ›

Trader Joe's doesn't have a factory where they make their products. According to Eater.com, “As a private brand, the California-based Trader Joe's orders most of its products from third-party manufacturers (including giants like PepsiCo.

Does Trader Joe's always have the same items? ›

Just keep in mind that this also means that not every product stays on the shelf forever. Your old favorites may not always be there (in fact, some our favorite Trader Joe's products have been discontinued), so make sure to stock up on the stuff you really like if you think it may not be around for much longer.

What are Trader Joe's weaknesses? ›

Weaknesses. Limited store presence: While Trader Joe's operates over 500 stores in the United States, its store count is relatively low compared to other major grocery chains. This limited presence can restrict the company's reach and make it difficult for some customers to access its stores.

Who is Trader Joe's biggest competition? ›

Trader Joe's's alternatives and competitors. See how Trader Joe's compares to similar products. Trader Joe's's top competitors include Tres Lecheria, Thrive Market, and Whole Foods Market.

What is hidden in Trader Joe's? ›

Donkeys, whales, monkeys, and lobsters are just some of the stuffed animals placed throughout stores as a way to keep children and parents entertained while shopping, confirms Today.

What is Trader Joe's sister company? ›

Aldi
Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord logos
TypePrivate
RevenueUS$121.1 billion (2021)
SubsidiariesTrader Joe's (Aldi Nord) Hofer (Aldi Süd)
Websitealdi.com
7 more rows

What grocery chain owns Trader Joe's? ›

Aldi Nord

Who is the parent company of Trader Joe's? ›

What does Trader Joe's do with unsold food? ›

As a national chain of neighborhood grocery stores, we are proud to donate 100% of products that go unsold but remain fit to be enjoyed to local food recovery organizations, in addition to a wide-range of community-based non-profit partners, seven days a week.

Which day does Trader Joes restock? ›

Experienced customers will share that the days to shop at TJ's are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. All fresh fruits and vegetables arrive every morning and are restocked every day. The most popular items, which often include some non-refrigerated foods, are often gone by mid-afternoon.

Is Trader Joe's overpriced? ›

Trader Joe's is definitely cheaper than the average grocery store, but you might have to wait in a longer checkout line to take advantage of them.

Where does Trader Joe's get their chicken? ›

Trader Joe's Organic Chicken Breasts come from chickens raised specifically for us primarily on family farms, under the strict USDA guidelines for Organic Certification.

Why is Trader Joe's so special? ›

At Trader Joe's, you won't find a lot of branded items. Instead, you'll discover a store full of unique and interesting products, along with everyday basics, in the Trader Joe's label. Our buyers travel the world searching for products we think are exceptional and will find a following among our customers.

Who makes Trader Joe's mac and cheese? ›

5. Annie's mac 'n' cheese. Debunked. Rumor has it Trader Joe's mac 'n' cheese comes from General Mills' organic pasta company, Annie's Homegrown.

Is Trader Joe's healthier than normal grocery stores? ›

2 | Don't assume it's a health food store

Because Trader Joe's offers a wide selection of healthy items it's easy to assume that it's a health food store. It's not. They do a great job of offering a wide variety of food, from healthy, minimally processed choices to super-processed junk food.

Why does Trader Joe's ring the bell? ›

The number of rings holds a message for store employees. One bell signals that it's busy and it's time to open another register. Two bells mean there are questions at the checkout.

Does Trader Joe's take back food you don't like? ›

Trader Joe's has a generous return policy — you can bring almost any item back to the store for a full refund, with or without a receipt. This includes food items you've opened and even eaten as well as non-edible products that didn't meet your expectations.

Why are Trader Joe's workers so nice? ›

So what is the reason Trader Joe's employees are so nice? The answer seems to be that the company treats its employees well, and so employees want to return the favor to the customers. Lucky us. NBC News reports that customers are likely to save as much as 20 percent on groceries.

Why are Trader Joe's employees so happy? ›

It's easy to tell that Trader Joe's employees love their jobs, and a large reason for that is because the company invests in employee experience. Trader Joe's pays its employees competitive wages and offers health care benefits to even part-time employees.

Who is Trader Joe's target market? ›

Trader Joe's targets singles, couples, and small families

As for who shops at Trader Joe's, it targets “singles, couples, and small families with its comparatively small package sizes, eschewing large families and bulk buyers”, ​said Porjes.

Who is the average consumer at Trader Joes? ›

Trader Joe's average customer is a married person in an urban area who is 25 to 44 years old, earning $80,000.

Where does Trader Joe's make their money? ›

Trader Joe's makes money by offering consumers a low-cost, high-quality grocery store experience. It maintains this low-cost model because it provides in-house brands instead of premium brands.

Why does Trader Joe's have such a strong competitive advantage? ›

They Provide a Seamless In-Store Experience

Beyond the friendly staff, the in-store experience has been optimized with the customer in mind. For example, a typical supermarket has 40 to 50,000 SKUs (stock-keeping units). A Trader Joe's store typically has about 4,000, so only about 10% of the total number of products.

What does Trader Joe's call their employees? ›

Crew. As a member of the Crew, you do a little of everything—and handle a lot. So does everyone along with you. From running the register, to stocking shelves, to creating a beautiful display; all while making sure that every customer has a fun, friendly and informative shopping experience.

What does the shirt mean at Trader Joe's? ›

Know Your Shirts

The distinctions between the shirts represent rank in the Trader Joe's hierarchy. The employees sporting the button-down Hawaiian print shirts are the store leaders. Unless you have a customer service concern, there's no real reason to seek these guys out specifically.

Who is the girl on Trader Joe's List? ›

Natasha Fischer, who's 33 years old and lives in LA, started the account over 10 years ago. She spends hours each week shopping, sourcing, cooking, and photographing products from TJ's, and posting them to her wildly popular Instagram.

Are the owners of Aldi's and Trader Joe's Brothers? ›

A popular misconception about Aldi U.S. BB #:116756 is that it's a sibling company, or at least a cousin, to Trader Joe's BB #:162286. It is not. While the two chains have some similarities, with both following a low-price, private-label-dependent strategy, they are independently owned and operated.

Why is it called Trader Joe's? ›

For the name of his new store, Coulombe landed on Trader Joe's to evoke exotic images of the South Seas. The name was inspired by Trader Vic's, a popular Tiki Bar restaurant started in California. Joe Coulombe the, founder of Trader Joe's, in 1986.

What is the difference between Aldi and Trader Joe? ›

Trader Joe's and Aldi were fairly aligned with respect to most pantry and meat products, and the winner of the lowest price seesawed from item to item. The big exception is that Trader Joe's seems untouchable when it comes to discount prices on coffee, oils and nuts.

What company is the same as Trader Joe's? ›

For those who are stunned to learn Trader Joe's isn't just an Aldi subsidiary but that there are two Aldis, let's take a step back. CNBC explains Aldi was originally founded as a suburban German corner store which brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht inherited after World War II.

What is the Italian name for Trader Joe's? ›

Other Trader Joe's names cited include Trader Giotto's and Trader Joe San for Italian and Japanese foods. After the petition was launched Trader Joe's issued a statement saying it has been in the process of updating such product labels.

What states don't have Trader Joe's? ›

States and Territories without any Trader Joes stores
  • Northern Mariana Islands.
  • North Dakota.
  • American Samoa.
  • Alaska.
  • South Dakota.
  • Puerto Rico.
  • Mississippi.
  • West Virginia.
May 16, 2023

Did China buy Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's is owned by German billionaires Karl and Theo Albrecht, who also own the Aldi food chain. The change apparently does not affect products containing multiple ingredients, of which some may be from China.

Does Trader Joe's have a stock? ›

No. Trader Joe's is a privately held company.

What German family owns Trader Joe's? ›

Theodor "Theo" Albrecht Jr. (born 1950) is a German billionaire businessman, the owner of Trader Joe's and Aldi Nord, and the son of Aldi's co-founder.

Why are shelves empty at Trader Joe's? ›

Trader Joe's employees cited warehouse labor issues, supply chain coordination, and trucking issues from slowed deliveries and lack of drivers.

How much do Trader Joe's crew get paid Reddit? ›

Crew cap is $27.25 with the ability to earn $30 if you're capped and worked at least 750 hours in the store during the previous review cycle. Currently in interview process and have a store manager job in standard retail at the moment i am going for mate but was asked if I'd be interested in crew if mate get filled.

How long is a typical shift at Trader Joe's? ›

(a) The first shift (day shift) shall consist of eight (8) consecutive hours worked between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Employees on the “day shift” shall receive eight (8) hours pay at the regular hourly rate for eight (8) hours work.

How often does Trader Joe's get new items? ›

Shopping in the morning may be best

Unfortunately, there is no "best time" to visit Trader Joe's. While all locations adhere to a standard stocking schedule, nuance exists from store to store. Product shipments are delivered daily, and the shelves are restocked throughout the day.

How often do you get a raise at Trader Joe's? ›

Flexible hours, pay raise every 6 months, and great employees and staff that really looks after you. Work environment is taxing on your body.

What is the turnover rate at Trader Joe's? ›

At Trader Joe's, turnover among full-time employees is less than 10%.

Does Trader Joe's negotiate salary? ›

Negotiate Salary

If you think you and your skill set should be valued higher than your offer, negotiate your salary! 20% of men and 100% of women at Trader Joe's said they negotiated their salaries. On average, Trader Joe's employees earn $128,919. Trader Joe's ranks in the Bottom 45% for compensation in Los Angeles.

Is meat more expensive at Trader Joe's? ›

For produce, Trader Joe's prices were 18 percent lower than the average prices at all surveyed stores. For meat, Trader Joe's prices were about 16 percent lower than average.

What is Trader Joe's positioning strategy? ›

Trader Joe's believes every customer should have access to the best prices on the best products every day. To consistently deliver value: We buy direct from suppliers whenever possible, we bargain hard to get the best price, and then pass the savings on to you.

What is Trader Joe's differentiation strategy? ›

In an industry that is easily commoditized, Trader Joe's has found a way to differentiate itself by creating a unique experience for customers: unique products, unique atmosphere and unique interaction with its staff. As sales leaders, we should pay very close attention to this last piece of the puzzle.

What differentiation strategy does Trader Joe's use? ›

For the business-level, Trader Joe's adopted a differentiation focus strategy. According to our textbook with this strategy, Trader Joe's seeks to differentiate in its target market. They rely on providing better service than broad-based competitors.

What kind of strategy does Trader Joe's use? ›

Below is the pricing strategy in Trader Joe's marketing strategy: Trader Joe's offers products which are affordable for its customers. To gain an edge over its competitors and meet the needs of its customers, it uses competitive pricing strategy making its products affordable and inexpensive.

What is the competitive advantage of Trader Joe's? ›

They Provide a Seamless In-Store Experience

Beyond the friendly staff, the in-store experience has been optimized with the customer in mind. For example, a typical supermarket has 40 to 50,000 SKUs (stock-keeping units). A Trader Joe's store typically has about 4,000, so only about 10% of the total number of products.

What are the 4 product positioning strategies? ›

There are four main types of positioning strategies: competitive positioning, product positioning, situational positioning, and perceptual positioning.

What are Trader Joe's core values? ›

Trader Joe's Values
  • Producing customer wow experiences.
  • Kaizen.
  • Treating its store as a brand.
  • Integrity.
  • Being product driven.

Who is Trader Joe's target segment? ›

Trader Joe's targets singles, couples, and small families

As for who shops at Trader Joe's, it targets “singles, couples, and small families with its comparatively small package sizes, eschewing large families and bulk buyers”, ​said Porjes.

What is Trader Joe's packaging strategy? ›

Packaging Sustainability Framework

Sourcing renewable and recycled packaging materials. Choosing packaging that can be realistically recycled. Avoiding the use of harmful substances in packaging. Providing information to customers on packaging materials.

What is Trader Joe's leadership style? ›

Trader Joe's practices "decentralized command" in which each location has a unique style (including employing local artists to create chalk sketches in the store).

What are the three types of differentiation strategy? ›

The three types of product differentiation are vertical, horizontal, and mixed. A common example of vertical integration is when two products are similar but priced differently. However, if the price of both products was the same, one would be considered "the best" because of its perceived quality.

What are the challenges that Trader Joe's is facing in the current market? ›

“In March, we noted the unique struggles that Trader Joe's would likely face during COVID. The brand's pricing, lack of online orientation, and perception as 'part' of the grocery picture as opposed to a one-stop-shop, were factors that we felt would limit success,” writes Ethan Chernofsky of Placer.ai.

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